A proposal that could see DART avoid withdrawal elections by member cities moved closer to a reality Thursday, following a meeting of the Regional Transportation Council.
The council, a 45-member policy body under the North Texas Council of Governments, voted overwhelmingly to commit $180 million in funding to DART, the Trinity River Metro and the Denton County Transit Authority at a meeting on Thursday afternoon. DART is set to receive $75 million under the plan, which will help the agency return funds to member cities to encourage suburban officials to reconsider exit votes planned for May.
Since November, withdrawal elections have been called in six DART member cities: Plano, Irving, Farmers Branch, Addison, University Park and Highland Park. Negotiations have centered on funding, especially the 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax contribution required of member cities to fund DART services. Cities such as Plano have sought returns on their sales tax contributions to support transit-oriented mobility programs that provide residents with localized transportation options…